Burial capsule



May 27, 1958 w. N. sNYDER 2,835,955

BURIAL CAPSULE Filed June `8, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. N. SNYDER BURIAL CAPSULE May 27, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 8, 1954 ATTDRN EYE United States Patent BURIAL CAPSULE William Newton Snyder, Mansfield, Ohio Application .lune 8, 1954, Serial No. 435,124

3 Claims. (Cl. 17-17) This invention relates to burial devices generally referred to as caskets, and in particular, a double-wall housing having a dead air space between the walls with an inner casing, somewhat similar to a conventional casket, in that the device is provided with a base and a cover with sealing means between the cover and base, and an outer housing formed with reinforced concrete or the like and having male and female sealing slots in meeting edges whereby, with an upper section providing a cover posidoned upon a lower section providing a base and with the parts tied together with twisted wires extended from the units, a continuous sealed joint is provided between the meeting edges of the cover and base.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a burial device or capsule that `combines the characteristics of both a casket and a vault and that is permanently both air tight and water proof.

Numerous attempts have been made to seal meeting edges of the upper and lower parts of caskets, and whereas extended flanges have been provided for providing mounting means of sealing elements, such devices only `protect the casket at the meeting edges of the cover and base and do not insure against cracks or other openings formed by settling or other changes in the foundation upon which the casket is positioned. With this thought in mind, this invention contemplates a completely sealed inner container and a complete positively sealed outer lhousing with a dead air space between the container and housing wherein exibility of movement is provided between the parts so that permanent sealing is substantially assured.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for forming a burial device that constitutes, sub stantially a casket, and a vault in which the casket is positioned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a doublewall container in which independent sealing means is provided in both inner and outer walls thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination casket and vault which substantially insures permanent sealing of an inner chamber in which the device is of a comparatively simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, the invention embodies a housing having a base with upwardly extended side and end walls, a cover having -an upper panel and also having side and end walls, seal- Ving elements positioned between the side and end walls of the base and cover and an inner container also having a base with side and end walls extended upwardly therefrom and a cover with a continuous flange and wherein sealing means is provided between the lower edge of the liange of the cover and the upper edges of side and end walls of the base of the inner container, the outer wall of the housing being provided with means for connecting the side and end walls of the cover to the side and end walls of the base.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the combination burial capsule with parts of an inner container broken away showing the interior thereof.

Figure 2 is a crossl section through the device shown in Figure l showing the outer housing in section and the inner container in elevation.

Figure 3 is a plan view showing a portion of one end of the base of the housing, the opposite end portion of the base being broken away.

Figure 4 is a detail showing a cross section through the sealing blocks or rails with other parts of the device broken away showing the parts in released positions.

Figure 5 is a cross section similar to that shown in Figure 4 showing the sealing blocks or rails pressed together wherein sealing elements are compressed or eX- tended to completely seal openings between the blocks.

Figure 6 is a detail, similar tothat shown in Figure 3, showing the under surface of the cover of the housing with a portion of the cover broken away.

Figure 7 is a detail showing a side elevational view of the inner container which is used in the housing.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, the improved burial capsule of this invention includes an outer housing having a base 10, a cover 11, endless sealing blocks formed with an upper male rail 12, a lower female rail 13 and a sealing element 14, and an inner container having a base l5 and a cover 16, the cover being provided with a liange 17 and a depending V-shaped tongue 18.

The base iii of the outer housing includes a continuous panel having vertically disposed end walls 19 and 20 and side walls 21 and 22 and, as illustrated in Figures l and 2, a continuous rail, as indicated by the numeral 13, is positioned in the upper edges of the side and end walls, the rail being supported with inwardly extended webs, as indicated by the numeral 23. The base 10 is also provided with spaced ribs, as indicated by the numeral 24, upon which the lower surface of the base 15 is positioned.

The female rails 13 which are supported on the upper edges of the webs 23 and which are shown in detail in Figures 4 and 5 are provided with inner channels 2.5 in which a sealing compound such as Fiberglas of polyester resin is positioned, such as indicated by the numeral 26, and there is provided an intermediate ridge 27 upon which a sealing gasket 14 of a suitable pliable material is positioned and a groove 28 that provides an opening for the escape of condensation orV other moisture. The ridge 27 is also provided with an outer rib 29 that provides means for retaining the material of the gasket in position. The inner portion of the rail 13 is provided with a liange 3i) that provides means for retaining the material 26 in the channel 25 and the upper edge of the iiange 36 is provided with a groove 31 that is positioned to receive the tongue 18 of the ange 17 on the lower edge of the ange of the cover 16 of the inner container.

With the parts formed in this manner, the sealing gasket 14, which is originally provided in the pattern illustrated in Figure 4, is pressed downwardly with a surface 32 of the male rail 12 and a tongue 33 also on the lower surface of the male rail passes into the channel 25 forcing the sealing compound 26 upwardly, as illustrated in Figure 5, to a point 34, thereby completely sealing the joint between the cover and base of the housing.

The upper or male rail 12 is also provided with a continuous flange 35 that is positioned to extend into the groove 28 of the lower female rail, and the rails are also 'and 6.

provided with wires36 and material of the rails and alsoof the side and end walls of the base and cover and, as illustrated in Figure 5, the ends of these wires are twisted together to provide means for VJretaining elementseof therails in nesting relation.- VThe provided with end walls 39 and and side walls 41 and '4Z and the upper edges of the sideand end walls are con- -nelcted to thepanel or cover 11 with diagonally disposed The cover is also provided with :transversely disposed ribs 44 and longitudinally disposed webs 45,- the webs extending to the upper surface of the or beveled sections 43.

upper rail 12.V By. this meansjdead air space, as indicated bythe numeral 46, is provided between Vthe cover il and upper part of the inner container and corresponding dead Aair space, as indicated by the numeral 47, is'provided be-r tweenthe lower portion of theihousing and the lower portion oftheinnerV container.

The lowerk portion or base 15 of the inner container is `Aalso provided'wi'th upwardly extending end walls 48 and ,49 and side `valls 50 and 51, and as illustrated in Figure V5, the upper edges of Vthe side and end walls terminate at ythe poinfSZ, at which point the lower surface of the Yflange 17 of the cover is positioned.

The cover' 16 of the inner container is provided with a continuous flange, as indicated bythe numeral 53, and

the ange 17 extends -from the lower edge of the flange 53, as shown particularly in Figures 4 and 5. The ange 53 is'connected to the panel of the'cover 16 with an 'arcuate section 54. Y'

The'base 10"and cover 11 may also be provided with Abeveled or diagonally positioned corners, as indicated by the numeral 55" and asY shown particularly inrFigures 3 VWith the parts formed as illustrated and described, a burial capsule is provided whereina body positioned in vthe base of the inner container is sealed, such as in a casket, and with the inner container, which may be formed of metal, ,plastic or other suitable material, closed, the innercontainer may be positioned in the base of the housing. and the cover 11 positioned with the plastic sealjing material 26in the channel 2S and Vwith the pliable 'gasket' V14 positioned upon the ridge 27 wherein, with pressure'applied to the cover, the' gasket 14 is compressed tothe positionshown in Figure 5 and the sealing material V'forced upwardlyto .the point 34also as shown in Figure 5.

By thismeans, a permanently sealed container is provided and, with the dead air space between the housing and inner container, the inner container is not only sealed from air kand water, but is not subject to changes in tem` perature. Y

It will be understood that modications, within the scope' of the appended claims, may be made in the design and arrangement of parts without departingfrom the spirit vof the invention.

Y What is claimed is: n

' 1. I n a burial device, the combination which com- Yprises a housing including a base having a lower panel with upwardly .extended side and end walls and having Aa rcontinuous female rail with grooves in the upper surface secured to the inner surfaces of the side and end 37 that are imbedded in theV fonemas@ walls, said base also'having spaced ribs therein, an inner f container having a base with upwardly extended side and end'walls positioned within the female rail of the housing and mounted upon said ribs, a cover having a depending flange positioned upon the inner container and having a continuous sealing tongue extended into a groove in said female rail, a cover VValso having a continuous panel with depending side and end walls having a male rail with tongues positioned to coact with grooves of the female rail of the b'aser'ofY the housing and adapted to coact with a sealing compound in the female rail of the Y base for sealing the housing,and a fastening means for securing said second mentioned cover to the outer housing baise. K i

2. In a burial device,'the combination whichfcom- `prises a Yhousing including a base having a lower panelV depending flange positioned upon the inner container and having a continuous sealing tongue extended into a groove lin said female'rail, a cover also having a .continuous panel with Vdepending side and end walls and having a male rail with tongues positioned to coact with grooves of the female rail of the base of the housing and adapted to coact Vwith a sealing compound in the female rail of the base for sealing the housing, a fastening means for securing said second mentioned cover to the Youter housing base, and a continuous gasket of pliable material positioned between meshing elements of the male and female rails of the housing.

3. In aburial device, the combination which comprises a housing including a base having a lower panel with upwardly extended side and'end walls and having a Y continuous female rail with grooves in the upper surface secured to the inner surfaces of the side and end walls,

' said base also having spaced ribs therein, an inner container having a basewith upwardly extended sideV and Vend walls positioned within the female rail ofthe hous- -ing and mounted upon said ribs, Va cover having a depending flange positioned upon Vthe inner container and having a continuous sealing Vtongue extendedV into agroove in said female Yrail, a'cover also having a continuous panel with depending side and end walls lhaving afmalegrail with tongues positioned to coact with grooves of the female rail of the base kof the housing and adapted to coact with Va Vsealing compoundY in the femaleprail of the vbase forV sealing the housing, a fastening means for seo curing said second mentioned cover to the outer housing .Y

base, a continuous gasket of pliable material positioned between meshing elementsrof the male and female rails of the housing, said ribs providing deadair space'between the inner containerrand housing.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

